Munich 1972

The Munich 1972 Olympics, for all its sporting magnificence, will always be remembered for the blackest day in Olympic history: the deaths of 17 people, including 11 Israeli athletes and officials, after a kidnapping and hostage crisis in the Olympic Village. Palestinian guerrillas had stormed the Israeli team headquarters on September 5. They killed two Israelis and took another nine hostage. Later, as they tried to make good their escape at the airport, a botched rescue attempt resulted in the deaths of five terrorists, a policeman and the nine Israelis. The Games were suspended for 34 hours, but IOC President Avery Brundage, determined not to let terrorism destroy the peaceful spirit of the Olympics, declared “The Games must go on.” While competition recommenced, the Games had been forever dealt an evil blow.

Key Facts

Opening date:

26 August 1972

Closing date:

11 September 1972

Host nation:

Federal Republic of Germany (1950-1990, "GER" since) (FRG)

Cauldron lit by:

Günter Zahn (ATH)

Number of nations:

121

Number of athletes:

7,134 (6,075 men, 1,059 women)

Number of sports:

23

Number of events:

195

Medal Tally

Nations

1

USSR

50

27

22

2

United States of America

33

31

30

3

German Democratic Republic

20

23

23

4

Federal Republic of Germany

13

11

16

5

Japan

13

8

8

6

Australia

8

7

2

Note: Medal tally as at end of Games

The undisputed king of Munich was American swimmer Mark Spitz (swimming took place in the first week of the Games, before the hostage crisis). He won a record seven gold medals, four individual and three relay events, and all in world record time. Having won two gold medals in 1968, Spitz’s tally of nine gold medals equalled the record jointly shared by Finnish runner Paavo Nurmi and Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina. If Spitz was the king, the queen of competition was Australia’s Shane Gould. The 15-year-old won three gold, one silver and one bronze medal, all in individual events.

Another woman emerging as a global star was Soviet gymnast Olga Korbut, who became known as the Munchkin of Munich. The 17-year-old won three gold medals. More significantly, her personal charm, flair and grace turned artistic gymnastics into a global television spectacle, as live broadcasts reached more people and more nations than ever before.

In basketball, the US men’s team suffered one of the most surprising – and controversial – losses in Olympic history. Entering the gold medal final against the Soviet Union, the US had won eight consecutive gold medals and 62 straight matches. But after a last-second refereeing and timekeeping bungle, the Soviets scored a miracle basket to win 51-50. Another great dynasty ended with East German Wolfgang Nordwig’s win in men’s pole vault – the US had won all 16 gold medals since 1896. The Olympic program continued to diversify, with archery and handball returning to the Games.

The Soviet Union was the most successful nation at the Games with 50 gold medals, winning more than a quarter of the events on the program.

Australia at these Games

Australia sent a team of 177 to Munich, 148 men and 29 women. Kayaker Dennis Green carried the Australian flag at the Opening Ceremony. Green was competing at his fifth Olympics, the first Australian to do so. Dual 1968 gold medallist Michael Wenden carried the flag in the Closing Ceremony.

Munich was a successful Olympics for Australia, with the nation finishing sixth on the medal table with eight gold, seven silver and two bronze medals. It was a team buoyed by the brilliance of Shane Gould. Entering the Games, Gould, just 15, held every freestyle world record from 100m to 1500m. She won five medals in Munich: gold in the 200m freestyle, 400m freestyle and 200 individual medley, silver in the 800m freestyle and bronze in the 100m freestyle. She would retire the next year, but what she achieved in Munich remains one of the great individual displays in Games history.

Three other gold medals came in the pool. Gael Neall won the women’s 400m individual medley, Beverley Whitfield the women’s 200m breaststroke, and Brad Cooper the men’s 400m freestyle.

The golden surprise – and double delight - was the sport of yachting, now called sailing. Sailors scored an unprecedented two gold medals for Australia. The trio of Tom Anderson, John Cuneo and John Shaw won the Dragon class, and John Anderson and David Forbes won the Star class. John and Tom Anderson were twins, the first pair to win gold medals, securing victories in their events on the same afternoon.

A performer worthy of record was sprinter Raelene Boyle, silver medallist in both the 100m and 200m on the track. Boyle, also a 200m silver medallist in 1968, only lost to Eastern European athletes, whose national programs were later discredited for being rife with doping.

All of Australia’s 17 medals were won in just four sports: aquatics (swimming), athletics, cycling and sailing (yachting).

Australian Olympians At The Games

Flag Bearers

Australian Medallists At The Games

No records found.

Games Trivia

Emblem

The Munich 1972 emblem depicts rays of light and and represents "the bright sun". It was designed to capture the light, fresh spirit of "Radiant Munich".

Mascot

Waldi was the first official Olympic mascot. He is a Dachshund- a popular breed of dog in Germany- and is predominantly blue with stripes of most of the other Olympic colours, excluding those colors related to the Nazi Party.

Pictograms

Otl Aicher, designer of the Olympic mascot, Waldi, also created sports pictograms for the Munich 1972 Olympics. It was the first time the now-universal sports pictograms were used in Olympic competition.

The AOC is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation, committed to the development of youth and sport. It is our responsibility to select, send and fund Australian Teams to the Olympic Games.

This is achieved by the support of our sponsors, contributions from the Australian Olympic Foundation (AOF), fundraising at corporate events and the backing of State and Territory Governments who donate to our Olympic Team Appeal.

The Australian Olympic Committee thanks all of our partners for their generous support of the Olympic athletes.